Black woman who sued for freedom honored in MA

BOSTON (AP) — The chief justice of the highest court in Massachusetts will help honor the first African-American woman to be set free under the state constitution after suing for her freedom in 1781.

Supreme Judicial Court Justice Roderick Ireland will deliver keynote remarks Tuesday in recognition of Mum Bett Day. Her court case was later cited as a precedent in the appeal of another case heard by the SJC, which laid the groundwork for the end of slavery in Massachusetts.

Bett was also known as Elizabeth Freeman.

The event will be hosted by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus in honor of Black History Month. It will be held at the Statehouse in the House Chamber.